Description
Delicious spinach garlic meatballs stuffed with melted mozzarella cheese, seasoned with Italian herbs and Parmesan, perfect as a flavorful main course or appetizer that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb Ground Beef or Turkey
- 2 cups Fresh Spinach, sautéed
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 small Onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 large Egg
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs (can use oats or almond flour)
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 8 oz Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cubes, chilled
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Optional Enhancements
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 tbsp Chopped Parsley
Instructions
- Sauté Spinach and Garlic: Heat a skillet over medium heat and sauté the fresh spinach and minced garlic until the spinach is wilted, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then finely chop the mixture.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground meat, egg, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and the chopped spinach and garlic mixture. Stir gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs.
- Form Meatballs: Take portions of the meat mixture and wrap them around chilled mozzarella cubes, ensuring each meatball is completely sealed so the cheese doesn’t leak during cooking.
- Cook Meatballs: Choose your cooking method: bake the meatballs at 400°F (200°C) in a preheated oven for 25 minutes, or pan-sear them in oil over medium-high heat for 8 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through.
- Optional Simmer in Sauce: For extra flavor, gently simmer the cooked meatballs in warm marinara sauce for 10 minutes before serving.
- Rest Before Serving: Allow the meatballs to rest for 5 minutes after cooking to retain their juiciness and ensure the cheese inside stays melted and delicious.
Notes
- Use chilled mozzarella cubes to prevent cheese leakage during cooking.
- Avoid overmixing the meat mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- You can substitute ground turkey for a leaner option.
- Optional red pepper flakes add a nice touch of heat.
- Simmering in marinara sauce adds moisture and flavor but is not mandatory.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 meatballs
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
